Written Answers Thursday 17 August 2006

Scottish Executive

Avian Influenza

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the evidence-based case for the use of vaccine as a strategic control measure to slow the spread of bird flu in order to prevent wholesale and immediate slaughter of poultry in the event of an outbreak of the disease.

Ross Finnie: The culling of poultry on premises infected by avian influenza is a requirement of the EU Avian Influenza Directive. The Scottish Executive is working with the other UK administrations to make vaccination a credible option for the control of avian influenza. However, substantial scientific and operational issues still need to be resolved, and it remains unlikely at present that vaccination could be used routinely as a disease control tool. High levels of surveillance, biosecurity and rapid action, including stamping out, currently remain the most effective ways of controlling avian influenza.

Avian Influenza

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the announcement by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on 11 July 2006 of its intention to order 10 million additional doses of bird flu vaccine for possible use as a strategic control measure, these doses will be available in the event of an outbreak in Scotland.

Ross Finnie: The vaccine resource which Defra is procuring will be available to all UK administrations.

Avian Influenza

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the announcement by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 July 2006 of its intention to order 10 million additional doses of bird flu vaccine for possible use as a strategic control measure, it intends to order vaccine in the pursuance of the same policy.

Ross Finnie: As noted in answer to question S2W-27581 on 17 August 2006, Scotland will have access to the UK avian influenza vaccine resource, and there is therefore no need to develop a separate Scottish vaccine bank.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Avian Influenza

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many doses of bird flu vaccine it (a) has in stock, (b) has ordered and (c) intends to order.

Ross Finnie: No avian influenza vaccine is currently held in stock in Scotland, but, as stated in the answers to questions S2W-27581 and S2W-27582 on 17 August 2006, Scotland will have access to the UK resource.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when sections 39 to 42 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 will come into force.

Johann Lamont: Sections 39 to 42 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, which have been commenced only for the purpose of making regulations, establish a new regime for the reorganisation of charities, enabling charities to seek approval for reorganisation from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), rather than having to apply to court. These provisions replace the old reorganisation provisions for most charities contained in the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions)(Scotland) Act 1990, and for charities which are also educational endowments under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. As the new provisions allow charities to apply to OSCR to reorganise as opposed to the court, the new regime will be both cheaper and quicker for charities.

  We are currently developing regulations under sections 39, which make provision about the form and manner of applications to OSCR, and intend to consult on the new regulations later this year. We intend to commence the provisions and bring these regulations into force early next year.

Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for some sections of the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 not having come into force, broken down by section.

Johann Lamont: As with other acts of the Scottish Parliament, implementation of the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 has been a phased process. While most sections of the act have come into force, the following sections remain to be commenced:

  
(i) sections 39 to 42 which relate to the reorganisation of charities,
(ii) sections 49 to 64 of the act which relate to Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations,
(iii) sections 84 to 92 which relate to public benevolent collections,
(iv) section 96 (power of a charity to participate in certain financial schemes) and
(v) schedule 4 paragraphs 5(b) and (c), and 11.


  The sections detailed in (i) to (iii) and consequentially the amendments in (v), above, will be commenced with the introduction of secondary legislation, which is necessary to set out the detail of how these provisions will operate. We will be drafting and consulting on these secondary regulations, after which the relevant sections of the act will come into force.

  Section 96 will be commenced following the enactment of the UK Charities Bill, currently in Committee Stage in the House of Commons, which will allow Scottish charities to participate in Common Investment Funds.

Environment

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any assessment has been made of the extent of colonisation of the trunk road network by Japanese knotweed and, if so, what the findings have been.

Tavish Scott: No assessment has been made of the extent of colonisation of Japanese knotweed on the Scottish trunk road network. However, all agents managing the trunk road network on behalf of the Scottish Executive are contractually obliged to take appropriate action as necessary to control infestations.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Environment

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out research into any potential damage to road surfaces resulting from the colonisation of adjacent verges by Japanese knotweed.

Tavish Scott: No instances have been reported regarding the root system of this particular weed having caused any damage to either the road surface or sub base of any trunk roads in Scotland. In light of this, no research into this matter has been undertaken or instructed by Transport Scotland.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

  It should be noted that local authorities are responsible for all matters concerning local roads.

Environment

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out research into any potential restriction of visibility splays resulting from the colonisation of road verges by Japanese knotweed.

Tavish Scott: No research into visibility splays restrictions resulting from the colonisation of road verges by Japanese knotweed has been undertaken by the Scottish Executive.

  The Operating Companies who manage the trunk road network on behalf of the Scottish Executive are required to keep visibility splays clear of vegetation. They are also required to undertake road safety inspections on the network every seven days. Any visibility restrictions caused by the growth of vegetation, including Japanese knotweed, would be reported and appropriate action taken.

  With this inspection regime in place, which is monitored by the independent Performance Audit Group, the Scottish Executive has no plans to undertake any research into this matter.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

  It should be noted that local authorities are responsible for all matters concerning local roads.

Environment

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any instructions to road maintenance contractors to (a) survey the extent of and (b) take action to control Japanese knotweed on road verges and visibility splays.

Tavish Scott: The Trunk Road Operating Companies are contractually obliged under their cyclic and routine maintenance duties to ensure the identification and control of Japanese knotweed as well as other weeds deemed injurious by the Weeds Act 1959 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Consequently, it is not necessary to issue specific instructions to the Operating Companies either to survey the extent of or take action to control Japanese knotweed on trunk road verges and visibility splays.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

  It should be noted that local authorities are responsible for all matters concerning local roads.

Environment

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to monitor and protect against the illegal importation of radioactive scrap metal into Scotland.

Ross Finnie: It is the general policy of the UK Government and the Scottish Executive not to import radioactive waste, except for the recovery of re-usable material, where that is the genuine prime purpose, or for treatment to ensure the future safe management of the waste, where such process would be impracticable in the country of origin. The Executive cooperates with other government departments.

  The Home Office has lead responsibility for the implementation of programme Cyclamen, a three year programme managed by HM Revenue and Customs with full co-operation from the Police, to introduce radiation detection equipment at ports and airports to support counter-terrorism measures.

  Radiation screening equipment, fixed and mobile radiation detection units, have been introduced at UK ports and Airports to routinely screen UK bound goods vehicles and passengers for the illicit importation of radioactive materials.

Environment

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the case for improved radiation detection devices in the scrap metal industry.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27552 on 17 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  In addition, the Health and Safety Executive has issued a Sector Information Minute which serves as guidance for the industry and its inspectors, and the British Metals Recycling Association has produced guidance and information for its members. Moreover, the major purchasers of scrap metal require the supplier to declare that the consignment is free of radioactive contamination and this has resulted in the installation of monitoring systems at various stages in the supply chain.

Environment

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of how much carbon dioxide has been expended in the importation of coal into Scotland in each year since 1999.

Allan Wilson: No such estimate has been made.

Environment

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much coal has been imported into Scotland in each year since 1999.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does not hold figures centrally on the amount of coal imported into Scotland. However, as a part of the Scottish Energy study some estimates were made for Scottish coal imports and exports for 2002: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/01/19092748/25 .

  These suggest that in 2002 around 3.9 million tonnes of coal were imported into Scotland.

Environment

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the countries from which coal has been imported into Scotland in each year since 1999.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does not hold information centrally on the countries from which coal is imported into Scotland.

Environment

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the chemical composition is of coal imported into Scotland as compared to that of indigenous coal.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does not hold information centrally on the chemical composition of coal imported into Scotland as compared to that of indigenous coal.

Environment

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what chemicals are released in the burning of coal imported into Scotland as compared to those released in the burning of indigenous coal.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does not hold information centrally on the chemicals released from the burning of imported coal as compared to indigenous coal. However, the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) database contains information on the emissions of particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and mercury, as well as other substances, for the commercial coal-fired powers stations in Scotland http://www.sepa.org.uk/spri/ .

Football

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it or the Scottish Office provided, and on what dates, towards the reconstruction of Hampden Park.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Office contributed £3.5 million to Phase I which involved the redevelopment of the north and east stands. That work was completed in 1994. As part of the Phase II redevelopment, which involved the construction of a new south stand and improvements to the west stand, the Scottish Office contributed £2 million over the three financial years from 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and the Scottish Executive contributed an additional £2.75 million in 1999-2000. These payments were made via  sportscotland. In addition,  sportscotland contributed £3.5 million from the Lottery Sports Fund towards the west stand and sports clinic element of Phase II.

Football

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision was made in any of the transactions in respect of the reconstruction of Hampden Park for the public purse to benefit from a share in any profit made in its running.

Patricia Ferguson: No provisions were in place for the public purse to benefit from the profits of running Hampden Park. However, provisions were put in place for a specific proportionate repayment of grant in the event of Queen’s Park Football Club Limited selling, leasing (otherwise than for football matches) or disposing any interest in Hampden Park without the prior consent of the then Secretary of State for Scotland or Scottish ministers. This provision for Phase I redevelopment lapsed in 2005 and for Phase II is in place until 2010.

NHS Finance

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of NHS board funding was allocated to community health partnerships in the last year, broken down by NHS board area.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive does not allocate funding directly to Community Health Partnerships (CHPs).

  NHS boards receive a total funding allocation from the Scottish Executive which they use to implement their overall Delivery Plans. CHPs are part of NHS boards and therefore receive delegated budgets from NHS boards to plan and deliver a range of services including all primary and community based services.

  All approved Schemes of Establishment are available on the Scottish Executive web site(http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/chp/index.htm) and include indicative percentages of delegated NHS board funding to CHPs for 2005- 06.

  Twelve NHS boards have established CHPs. The schemes of Establishment for NHS Orkney and NHS Western Isles are under discussion. Ten NHS boards devolved funding to CHPs in 2005-06. CHPs in Greater Glasgow were in shadow form in 2005-06 and there was no funding devolved to them. CHPs in NHS Lanarkshire did not become operational until 1 April 2006 and therefore no funding was funding in 2005-06.

  The following table sets out the percentage of Board budgets, as advised by each NHS board, devolved to their CHPs for the year ending 31 March 2006:

  

 NHS Board
 Percentage of NHS Board Budget Devolved to CHPs


 NHS Ayrshire and Arran
 40.0%


 NHS Borders
 77.4%


 NHS Dumfries and Galloway
 43.6%


 NHS Fife
 43.2%


 NHS Forth Valley
 35.3%


 NHS Grampian
 63.0%


 NHS Highland
 46.2%


 NHS Lothian
 38.0%


 NHS Shetland
 32.9%


 NHS Tayside
 23.9%

Non-Domestic Rates

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it paid in non-domestic rates to each local authority in 2005-06 in respect of its core functions, broken down by department and agency.

Mr Tom McCabe: The amounts paid by the Scottish Executive in respect of non-domestic rates to each local authority in 2005-06 are as follows.

  

 Local Authority
 Property
 Payment


 Edinburgh Council
 Bute House
£11,039


 
 Governors House
£19,024


 
 Leith Walk
£41,448


 
 Pentland House
£406,382


 
 St Andrews house
£814,877


 
 Saughton House
£350,271


 
 Unit 6, Tower Street
£7,642


 
 Unit 4A, Elizafield
£16,770


 
 Unit 4B, Elizafield
£8,385


 
 Victoria Quay
£1,690,695


 Total
 
£3,366,533


 Glasgow City Council
 
 


 
 Fruit Market
£1,697


 
 Meridian Court
£218,030


 
 Europa Building
£349,201


 Total
 
£568,928



  

 Local Authority
 Property
 Payment


 Argyll and Bute
 Cameron House
£27,365


 Total
 
£27,365


 Highland Council
 Longman Road
£57,646


 
 Ord Croft
£1,533


 
 Scorrybreck
£6,031


 
 Strathbeg
£9,912


 
 Kinlochleven
£1,242


 Total
 
£76,364


 Perth and Kinross
 Strathern House
£144,305


 Total
 
£144,305


 Moray Council
 Redhaven 
£5,781


 Total
 
£5,781


 Dumfries and Galloway
 
£3,766


 Total
 Station Road
£3,766


 Scottish Borders
 Tweedbank
£18,416


 Total
 
£18,416


 Aberdeenshire Council
 Thainstone
£62,944


 Total
 
£62,944


 Orkney Islands Council
 Tankerness lane
£17,411


 Total
 
£17,411


 South Lanarkshire
 Wellhall Road
£26,766


 Total
 
£26,766



  

 Local Authority
 Property
 Payment


 Falkirk Council
 Callendar Park
£26,068


 Total
 
£26,068


 Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
 Balivanich
£5,532


 
 Keith Street
£13,092


 
 
£18,624


 
 Total
£4,363,271



  It is not possible to break down these costs between departments as rate bills are rendered by reference to individual buildings and most buildings contain staff from several departments.

Postal Services

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-9423 by Ross Finnie on 23 March 2006, what the outcome was of the meeting held on 14 February 2006 between the Minister for Environment and Rural Development and representatives of the Royal Mail Group regarding the availability of postal services throughout rural Scotland.

Ross Finnie: We discussed issues related to the post office network, in particular in rural areas. Royal Mail and Post Office representatives explained the work that has been on-going to explore alternative, more sustainable means of service delivery. I made clear my view of the importance of post offices to rural communities and the need to explore various delivery models – including co-location of public or private sector services – in attempts to ensure the continuation of viable services and facilities wherever possible. It was agreed that officials should keep in touch and the Environment and Rural Development Department would seek to assist where possible towards that aim, within the limits of devolved powers.

Postal Services

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S20-9423 by Ross Finnie on 23 March 2006, what the outcome was of the meeting between the Minister for Environment and Rural Development and Barry Gardiner MP regarding the erosion of rural postal services.

Ross Finnie: At my meeting on 6 March 2006 with Barry Gardiner MP, then minister with responsibility for postal services, I had a constructive discussion about post offices and rural service provision which gave me an opportunity to hear the problems that the post office network faces while expressing my own views on the importance of the network in Scotland. The meeting was one of a series of meetings the DTI had with departments across the UK to allow them to hear views and take an informed decision on the future of the network in due course.

Rail Network

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to First ScotRail in the last year.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland officials meet at least weekly with First ScotRail as part of the franchise management process. In addition, I have met with senior representatives of First ScotRail and First Group to discuss issues of broader concern and impact for the rail industry.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any financial contribution to the costs incurred in relocating the Met Office’s weather forecasting station from Corse Hill to enable the development of the Whitelee wind farm site.

Allan Wilson: The Executive has made no financial contribution towards the cost of relocating the Corse Hill weather radar station.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any financial contribution to the costs incurred in building the second weather forecasting station needed to ensure adequate radar coverage when the original was relocated from Corse Hill to enable the development of the Whitelee wind farm site.

Allan Wilson: The Executive has made no financial contribution towards the building of the second weather radar station.

Roads

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated average construction cost per mile is of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Tavish Scott: We currently estimate the total cost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route as being between approximately £10 million to £13 million per mile.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20465 by Tavish Scott on 17 November 2005, whether it will review its position in respect of contributing to the costs of the Inverness Southern Distributor Road and classifying it as part of the trunk road network.

Tavish Scott: Consideration of the Inverness Southern Distributor Road in the regional transport strategy for the area is a matter for the Highland Council to discuss with the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership. Capital funding of £3,530,227 in 2006-07, and £3,530,227 in 2007-08 was made available to the Partnership, by the Scottish Executive.

Roads

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive why the Minister for Transport has not responded to a letter, dated 20 April 2006, from the Dalry Business Club which raised concerns expressed by residents of Dalry with regard to the on-going A737 STAG study and when the Minister will provide a substantive response.

Tavish Scott: A letter of response from Transport Scotland was sent to the Dalry Business Club on 26 June 2006. An Executive announcement on interventions to address the road transport related problems assessed in the A737 Dalry STAG was made on 3 July 2006 with the Final A737 Dalry STAG Report being published on Transport Scotland’s website on 24 July 2006.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26309 by Tavish Scott on 13 June 2006, whether it will carry out a new study into the feasibility and cost of dualling the A9 in its entirety between Perth and Inverness.

Tavish Scott: We are undertaking a Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which will provide an opportunity to consider future strategic investment priorities for all modes of transport across the whole transport network in Scotland, including transport corridors, such as the A9 between Perth and Inverness. In addition to the Perth – Inverness corridor, being assessed through the (STPR).

  I recently announced the outcome of the Route Action Strategy Study between Perth and Blair Atholl which identified £165 million worth of potential long-term improvement work on the southern section of the A9 and recommended that more detailed analysis on this be carried out to confirm the practicality. I have agreed to this further work being done to fully assess the implications and practicalities of dualling between Perth and Pitlochry, provision of safe overtaking opportunities and reconstruction along this important, but environmentally sensitive route.

Teachers

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers (a) retired and (b) retired on the grounds of ill health in each year since 1997, broken down by category of illness.

George Lyon: Table one contains details of age retirements from 1 April 1997 in the Scottish Teachers Superannuation Scheme [STSS]:

  

 Year to 31 March
 Age Retirements


 1998
 4,470


 1999
 2,128


 2000
 2,342


 2001
 2,399


 2002
 1,609


 2003
 3,305


 2004
 1,938


 2005
 1,926


 2006
 2,409



  Table 2 details the number of ill-health retirals in the STSS broken down by category of illness. This information was only retained from 1 September 1997 and until 1 April 2000 no categories were identified:

  

 Category of Illness
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Infectious diseases 
 
 
 1
 1
 1
 3
 1
 1


 Neoplasms 
 
 
 39
 34
 49
 28
 46
 36


 Endocrine and similar diseases 
 
 
 6
 2
 4
 5
8
 1


 Diseases of blood, etc 
 
 
 2
 4
 0
 4
 2
 0


 Mental disorders
 
 
 166
 166
 121
 88
 80
 47


 Diseases of nervous system, etc
 
 
 41
 48
 51
 48
 50
 29


 Diseases of circulatory system 
 
 
 22
 23
 15
 22
 21
 12


 Diseases of respiratory system, etc
 
 
 3
 5
 5
 9
 2
 13


 Diseases of digestive system
 
 
 8
 11
 4
 9
 1
 3


 Diseases of genito-urinary system
 
 
 2
 4
 1
 3
 1
 3


 Complications of pregnancy, etc
 
 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Skin diseases, etc
 
 
 0
 0
 5
 2
 2
 1


 Diseases of musculoskeletal system
 
 
 62
 42
 51
 44
 41
 29


 Congenital abnormalities
 
 
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1
 3


 Conditions of the perinatal period
 
 
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Symptoms, signs and ill defined conditions
 
 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0


 Injury and poisoning
 
 
 1
 1
 1
 0
 2
 2


 Chronic fatigue syndrome
 
 
 21
 25
 17
 16
 11
 4


 Miscellaneous 1
 
 
 0
 0
 1
 3
 3
 0


 Miscellaneous 2 with no known diagnosis
 
 
 5
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Total 
 223
 400
 379
 366
 327
 286
 274
 184